Micah 6:5 kjv
O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
Micah 6:5 nkjv
O My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, From Acacia Grove to Gilgal, That you may know the righteousness of the LORD."
Micah 6:5 niv
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD."
Micah 6:5 esv
O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD."
Micah 6:5 nlt
Don't you remember, my people,
how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed
and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead?
And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal,
when I, the LORD, did everything I could
to teach you about my faithfulness."
Micah 6 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 12:51 | And it came to pass, that on the same day that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies. | God's direct action in bringing Israel out of Egypt |
| Deut 5:15 | And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: wherefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. | Command to remember liberation and Sabbath |
| Psa 105:43 | And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness. | Joy of God's deliverance |
| Jer 2:6 | Neither said they, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness... | Israel's failure to remember God's guidance |
| Hos 11:1 | When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. | God's fatherly love and call from Egypt |
| John 6:32 | Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. | Divine provision of spiritual food |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. | Christ's presence in Israel's history |
| Rom 15:4 | For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. | Scriptures teach for our learning |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: | Redemption through Christ's blood |
| Lev 26:45 | And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God. | God's enduring covenant |
| Deut 7:9 | Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; | God's covenant faithfulness |
| Psa 136:10-12 | To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: With an outstretched arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. | God's mercy in the Exodus |
| Isa 43:1 | But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. | God's redemption and calling of Israel |
| Ezek 20:5-6 | Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand against them, saying, I am the Lord your God. In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had prepared for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands: | God lifting His hand and promising the land |
| Rom 9:17 | For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. | God's power displayed through Pharaoh |
| John 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. | Incarnation of God's Word |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: | Christ as our righteousness and redemption |
| Eph 2:10 | For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. | Created for good works |
| Gal 5:1 | Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. | Christian liberty |
| Heb 3:15 | While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. | Warning against hardening hearts |
Micah 6 verses
Micah 6 5 Meaning
This verse is a divine invitation, spoken by God, to recall the history of His people's relationship with Him. It specifically calls upon them to remember the journey from Egypt, emphasizing God's actions on their behalf and highlighting the moral obligations that flowed from His deliverance. It underscores that their covenant relationship was not just about a past rescue, but a continuous call to righteousness.
Micah 6 5 Context
Micah prophesies during a tumultuous period for Israel, facing internal corruption and external threats from Assyria and Babylon. This specific chapter, Micah 6, is structured as a legal indictment, with God Himself acting as the prosecutor. He calls the mountains and hills of Israel to witness His case against His people. The charges include unfaithfulness to the covenant, greed, injustice, and the practice of pagan rituals, specifically mentioning the detestable practices of their neighbors. Verse 5 serves as the prosecution's opening statement, reminding the people of God's past faithfulness in delivering them from Egypt, thereby setting the stage for the argument that their current disobedience is a profound betrayal of their covenant obligations. This historical remembrance is crucial to understanding the severity of their transgressions.
Micah 6 5 Word Analysis
“Come, my people…”
- Hebrew: בואו (Boh-oo) - "Come ye", "Come", "Enter."
- A direct and personal invitation from God to His covenant people.
- Signifies a call to engagement, to listen and consider.
“Hear ye…”
- Hebrew: שמעו (Sh’mah-oo) - "Hear", "Listen", "Obey."
- A command that implies more than passive hearing; it requires attentive listening and obedience to what follows. This is a fundamental command in Judaism (e.g., the Shema).
“Cause the nations to hear”
- Hebrew: הערצות את־הגוים (Ha’artz’teet et ha-goyim) - "Testify against the nations" or "charge the nations."
- Indicates a public proclamation of God’s justice. The message is not just for Israel but will ultimately reveal God’s righteousness to the surrounding nations.
“or ye, O mountains…”
- Hebrew: אם־אתם־הרים (Im-atem-harim) - "Or you mountains" (part of a hypothetical accusation setup, essentially God speaking through the witness of nature).
- Personification of inanimate creation to serve as silent, eternal witnesses to God's dealings and His people's covenant breaking.
- Highlights the natural order's testimony against rebellion.
“contend with Israel.”
- Hebrew: רִיבוּ (Rivu) - "Contend", "plead", "strive", "debate."
- This is a legal term, framing the verse as a courtroom scene where God is presenting His case.
Words Group Analysis:
- "Come, my people... Hear ye... or ye, O mountains, contend with Israel." This initial phrase sets up a threefold confrontation: God addressing His people, calling them to listen, and summoning the very earth as witnesses in a legal dispute. It establishes God as the accuser, Israel as the accused, and the natural world as impartial arbiters of the past covenant.
- "Hear ye... cause the nations to hear... contend with Israel." This part emphasizes the public nature of God's indictment. The hearing is not private; it’s to be proclaimed universally, ensuring that both Israel and the gentile nations recognize the justice of God’s actions.
Micah 6 5 Bonus Section
The structure of Micah 6 resembles a formal "suit" or lawsuit, a common prophetic genre used to convey God's disappointment and judgment against His people's covenant unfaithfulness. God, the plaintiff, calls upon creation as witnesses to testify against His chosen people, Israel, who are the defendants. This particular verse lays out the introduction of God's argument, immediately drawing upon their foundational experience of redemption from Egypt. This rhetorical move underscores that their relationship with God is built upon His powerful, merciful interventions. The inability of Israel to respond or the need to appeal to mountains as witnesses highlights their spiritual deafness and blindness to God's continued grace. This cosmic lawsuit emphasizes the gravity of breaking a covenant relationship grounded in divine action and love.
Micah 6 5 Commentary
God initiates a divine lawsuit against Israel in Micah 6. He begins by summoning His own people, calling them to attentive obedience ("Hear ye"). He then extends this summons to the unhearing natural world ("or ye, O mountains"), demanding that the very earth bear witness to His righteousness. The underlying reason for this "contention" or legal plea is His own faithfulness demonstrated in the past, particularly in the Exodus from Egypt. This remembrance of past mercies is presented as the foundation for Israel's present obligations and the evidence of their covenant betrayal. God is reminding them of His mighty acts on their behalf, from which their identity and responsibilities are derived. He delivered them from bondage with overwhelming power and a steadfast commitment to His covenant, expecting loyalty and justice in return.